Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knew he was entering a difficult situation when taking over for Don Mattingly in terms of perception about his role in decision-making.
Dave Roberts revealed this week that he knew whoever replaced Don Mattingly as Los Angeles Dodgers manager in 2016 would be called a “puppet” for working under an analytically-minded front office. Hired with no managerial experience, many expected Roberts would fill a new trend among big league managers of being an executor of lineup and strategic decisions made above his head.